The Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attaché at the Embassy of Poland in Ottawa stated in 20 September 2001 correspondence that there is a Category "D" Classification in Polish military service related to conscription. This category exempts a Polish citizen from performing his military service in time of peace (ibid.). The other categories used by the Polish military are the following:

Category "A" -capable for military service;

Category "B" - not capable for military service for a determined period of time;

Category "E" - permanently incapable of performing military service.

Regarding classification categories for military service related to conscription in Poland, a 4 April 1999 viewpoint published in The Warsaw Voice states that:

The requirements for conscription are basically a sound mind and a healthy body, with conscripts placed into four categories after a commission has examined them. Category A is the first, and represents those in good health and fit to serve. Category B also represents those fit to serve but presently studying in a higher education institution. Category D is a person unfit to serve as a regular soldier and can only be called up for active engagement. Finally, category E is for those who are unfit to serve at any time, due to very poor medical or psychological health.

While the above categories may appear a fair way to decide whether a person is fit for service, many young men feel caught in a Catch-22 situation: They don't want to go to the army, but if they fake a poor bill of health they will be categorized as D, or E, thus finding difficult to find an employer, since all employers want to see their military report.

Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of Poland, Ottawa. 4 April 1999. Correspondence received from Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attaché.

The Warsaw Voice. 17 November 2001. Tom Galvin. No. 15 (545). "Character building - Army Style." http://www.warsawvoice.pl/v545/View01.html [Accessed 14 Sept. 2001]